Brown has already recovered once when most of the political class had left him for dead but it is almost impossible to see how he can recover again. The brilliantly-constructed illusion that Brown is in control during this crisis has been shattered by events: as repossessions, unemployment and bankruptcies rise, the public will not see Brown as the great helmsman steering them through the crisis. Indeed, the weakness of Brown’s position is shown by the hopes that Labour is investing in Obama’s visit in April, a visit that Obama has yet to commit to. It will take much more than an arm around the shoulder from the President to revive the Prime Minister.